Top pick

This time-tested classic is reasonably priced, roomy, and dependable enough to last for years. It’s not our lightest, most comfortable, or toughest pick, but it’s close enough, and it’s reasonably priced.

If you’re unsure which camping chair to buy, you can’t go wrong with the classic Coleman Cooler Quad Chair.

It’s durable and comfortable for a range of campers. The Coleman Cooler Quad has been our pick since 2016, through numerous camping trips and several testing sessions.

That’s because it’s among the most durable and comfortable chairs we’ve tested. It’s large enough to accommodate a wide range of body types, and its steel frame supports up to 325 pounds.

It’s light and easy to carry. Weighing about 8 pounds, the Coleman chair is lighter than most traditional models, so it’s easier to grab from deep in a car trunk or to carry for long distances.

Like others in its category, this chair comes with an over-the-shoulder carry bag, but some testers found it was light and compact enough to carry without the case. It’s as simple to set up as any chair we tested.

It’s widely available, and it’s affordable. Coleman is a well-known brand, and the Cooler Quad Chair is easy to get just about anywhere: at Amazon, sporting-goods stores, and big-box retailers.

It’s more affordable than other chairs we tested of similar quality. Most other chairs in its price range don’t match its quality, features, or reputation.

It has thoughtful storage features. Testers preferred the Coleman chair’s thoughtfully placed mesh storage pouch over those of its competitors. This pouch is big enough to stow gear like a phone, book, or tablet.

Of the chairs we tested, the Coleman chair was the only one that came with a built-in cooler bag, which can hold four standard-size beer or soda cans. The chair also has the round mesh cupholder found on most chairs of this type.

How the Coleman Cooler Quad Chair has held up

Senior editor Kalee Thompson, who wrote a previous version of this guide, has been regularly using the Coleman chair she originally tested in 2016. The chair has held up to years of backyard hangs and camping trips, although the cooler pouch has deteriorated, and some parts of the fabric close to the frame have frayed.

Several Wirecutter staffers have owned the Coleman chair for years, using it on camping trips, in backyards, and at sporting events. For the most part, it’s held up well, but one common quibble is that the seat bottom begins to sag after several years of use.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Comfort-wise, this chair was middle-of-the-road. It was not usually the favorite of our testers, but rarely the most disliked. It won’t blow you away, but we think that for a chair at this price, the Coleman offers a good baseline of comfort.

It doesn’t have mesh or ventilation on its seat. If you sweat a lot or live in a humid climate, be aware that this chair’s seat material will trap moisture. Coleman makes a mesh version, which lacks a cooler pouch and storage pocket.

Specs

Weight: 8.2 pounds
Weight capacity (stated, not tested): 325 pounds
Warranty: one year